"My father sang an abbreviated version of this when I was young (long ago), and I have always remembered it because it was such nonsense. Only when I found the Froggy song in a folk tunes book in the mid 70s did I realize that he'd been singing a version of the refrain similar to Antonio's (see version in the Song Notes)." -Sally Newell

Notes

Antonio sent this version below with the following note:

"While doing my research on old folk music, I stumbled upon your site. Having seen the song posted here, I think this is another good one, with roughly the same wording: 'Uncle Rat – Sing san kitty, won't you kimeo'. The song is dated 1939, is Sung by Charles Fulton and the original acetate can be heard at the Library of Congress website. Words are as follows..."

Oh, Uncle Rat
He wanted a wife
Sing song Kitty
Can't you kimeo
Well, he jumped on
A horse and he rid for life
Sing song Kitty
Can't you kimeo.

(Chorus)
Kimo, kimo, derowall, mahai
Mahao, rumstisckydumadiddle
Sometimes pennywinkel
Lupdown, nipcat, setbag
Sing song Kitty
Can't you kimeo.

Oh, the rats
Are digging in despair
Sing song Kitty
Can't you kimeo
Without a flannel shirt
To wear
Sing song Kitty
Can't you kimeo.
(Chorus)

Oh, Uncle Rat
He wanted a wife
Sing song Kitty
Can't you kimeo
Well, he jumped on
A horse and he rid for life
Sing song Kitty
Can't you kimeo.
(Chorus)

He woke up dead
Now what about that
Oh, Uncle Rat
He wanted a wife
Sing song Kitty
Can't you kimeo
(Chorus)

You can hear a similar version in the recording below...

Comments

Find more versions that people shared on Mama Lisa's World Blog post called The Many Versions of Frog Went A-courtin'.

You can hear Sally Newell singing the version at the top of the page in the recording below…

Download

Thanks and Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Sally Newell for sharing her father's version of this song, for sharing the video and recording!